what our days look like (Mamás para Huggies)

This is a sponsored post.

Two kids changed to three..

Our schedule revolves much around baby these days. Shopping trips and errands are easily interrupted and I find myself hanging out in the car a lot...because who wants to take two kids out of their car seats only to put them right back in again?....so we take care of diaper changes and sit in the backseat with Audrey, and share a snack while I feed baby.

Everything gets done (or not) at a much slower pace. Like the dirty dishes in the sink and laundry waiting to be folded. 

And priorities have changed. Sitting down to feed baby, snapping pictures, and taking a walk to the park with Audrey seem much more important.

Little things like reliable diapers and wipes make my day so much easier knowing spills and sticky hands and wet bottoms will be taken care of and won't take away my time....

from all the really important stuff.

here's a small peak into our life these days...

As part of the Mamás para Huggies campaign I'm sharing some of 

Poncho De Anda's Tips to Tackle Parenting...

Diaper bag distractions: Stock diaper bag with small toys, a few snacks, books and Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers. Keep baby happy no matter where you are. 

Have wipes on hand. Disposable wipes are crucial in any household with a baby. Keep wipes close by, not just in the nursery, and use them for everything from diaper changing to dinner clean up. The new and improved Huggies Natural Care Wipes are great to clean up little hands and faces after a family meal because they are gentle and fragrance-free for soft baby skin. 

Whether it's spaghetti night or extra-long naps, every Parent's life is filled with unexpected messes, both in and out of the diaper! Huggies® wants you to try their new and improved Diapers and Wipes and put them to the test. You can go to the Huggies Latino Facebook Page to share  for a chance to win a fully-stocked Huggies® diaper bag to help you battle some of the most unexpected and messiest situations in your everyday life. 

This is part of a compensated campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Huggies.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.

the Doc is in

Audrey is Doc McStuffins obsessed these days. 

I don't mind it at all. It's the sweetest show filled with great messages... also...I love seeing girls of color in children's television. We bought Audrey a doctors kit and doctor is all she's been playing these days. She goes around fixing everyone at home. 

I also love that Disney Junior gives us the ability to watch it in Spanish as well!

Disney Junior sent us Doc McStuffins: Friendship Is The Best Medicine on DVD and it's been all Audrey has watched lately. 

Does your chiquita play doctor? Are you guys loving Doc McStuffins too?

*we were sent a copy of this DVD for review purposes. All thoughts are my own. 

Creating Lifeables

*This post is compensated and in collaboration with Lifeables and Latina Bloggers Connect

Iv'e been playing on Lifeables the last couple of days. Have you heard about it? It's a new virtual scrapbook type service that brings together all your pictures, videos, posts and events that are spread across your social networks, phones and computers...in seconds. You pretty much type in key words and it automatically filters through all your content...it does everything for you. 

I added profiles for both Audrey and baby Frank and found all the pictures and posts from the last couple of years that are on my different social networks. Lifeables brought together anything from pictures on Instagram to posts on twitter and friend messages from FB. It was super sweet to find photos and tweets from when Audrey was a toddler!!!

I'm picturing how you could totally get fancy with this... a birthday party Lifeable for example, with pictures from your phone, computer or instagram, twitter updates from the birthday party, updates and birthday messages from friends on FB... all in one page...even photos that family and friends took and posted to FB! How neat would it be to have  all that together? 

I think it's awesome to be able to collect all these special moments for events like weddings, family gatherings, vacations, etc., and Lifeables is in the process of letting you order real books from  Lifeables. 

It's completely secure, so you can choose who gets to view your Lifeables, you can keep them for yourself if you like or share them with friends who if you choose have the ability to comment on your Lifeables. It's also nice that friends and family who might not belong to all the same social networks you do can still see all your memories and milestones.

The best part...it's free! Take a tour and try it out to see if you like...I know you will enjoy seeing all your posts, pictures and updates you might of forgotten about over the last couple of years together in one place.

I'm interested to hear how you sort, organize, display and share your family stories? I am so terribly awful at this...hoping Lifeables will help me out with this!

 What do you think about Lifeables? Is it important to you to keep your family memories that are spread across the web together in one place?

I had never really thought about how many of my memories are out there...glad I've gotten a chance to peak at them again and keep them close by.

*all thoughts and opinions are my own

what makes a good father?

This post is compensated by Huggies and in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect. 

When Kip and I were dating my mom shared a saying with me,I don't know where she heard it from or if she even remembers telling me this but it stuck with me.

A man who owns plants and pets will make a good husband and father. 

Meaning he most likely is able to show his love, be responsible, and provide care for another being. Kip had both a dog and house plants...(: and turned out to be the most caring, responsible, and loving man I know. Now, I tell all the single friends I know to marry a man with plants and pets!...(:

An Interview with Kip...his views on parenting...

Marcela:If you were taking the kids out today what would you make sure you had in the diaper bag?

Kip:Diapers, wipes, a clean towel, and a changing mat. (I have to add to this one...a change of clothes...he never forgets a change of clothes!....he reminds me all the time to pack extra!)

Marcela:If you could give a new dad only one tip what would it be?

Kip: Relax!

Marcela:You seem pretty cool to me... do you think youv'e changed since you had children?

Kip:How haven't I changed? My entire priority system has been reordered. My kids are everything! I'm just a pretty cool dad!

Marcela: It's the weekend...where will you be taking the kids to?

 Kip:To watch the newest movie, play at the park, if they've been really good Disneyland or Chuck'E Cheese (their favorite), or watching them participate in their favorite activities (sports, dancing, etc.)

Marcela:What is your greatest responsibility as a parent?

Kip:The safety of my kids. 

Marcela:Being a parent is a lot of hard work, what's the biggest payoff?

Kip:Seeing my kids truly happy. 

Marcela: You love hanging out with the kids...why?

Kip:I'm sharing new experiences. Nothing beats the look on their faces when you blow their minds with something really cool. 

Marcela: No one is perfect, what is your biggest struggle as a parent?

Kip: Keeping the kids from driving my wife crazy! (he's not doing a very good job at this :)

 Dont't forget to join Poncho de Anda on FB for a special chat (another cool dad) in Spanish on Sept 20th from 12pm EST to 1pm EST to hear how he as a dad tackles the challenges of parenting. You will be able to connect with and ask Poncho de Anda your parenting questions. Look for the picture of Poncho on the FB page and click to participate in the chat. 

*all views are my own

the office coffee makeover

Have you checked out Don Francisco's Office Coffee Makeover Facebook contest yet? There is still time to enter your office in the contest for a chance to win a Krups coffee maker and a six month supply of coffee!

Make sure you visit and cast your vote for your favorite office needing a coffee makeover. 

I have coffee gift basket winner announcements...yay!

Congrats Beth Elderton and Lori!

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3 (giveaway)

During our walk yesterday we noticed a chihuahua dressed up in sneakers and a sun hat. Audrey thought it was the cutest thing she had ever seen.
I worried about how comfortable the dog was? But...it looked happy...and the owner looked happy too. ( :

I guess thats all that matters.

Audrey just about dies every time she sees a chihuahua..."it's so adorable"... you can imagine her after seeing the picture above...just about died from the "cuteness".

We were sent a copy of Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3 for review (available now for purchase) and a copy to giveaway to one of you...if you like "cute and adorable"...then I hope you win....

Giveaway:

I have one copy of Beverly Hills Chihuahua on Blu-ray/DVD/Digital copy to giveaway. Leave any topic related comment. I will randomly pick one winner on September 26 at 11:59 pm. US only. Make sure to add your email address to your comment if not already on your profile.

Suerte!!

Barbie The Princess and The Popstar

Audrey was sent the newest Barbie movie The Princess and The Popstar along with dolls Princess Tori and Popstar Keira to play with... she is in Barbie heaven...

It's a cute movie that any girl will love...Princess Tori dreams of leaving her royal life for the life of a popstar and Keira is tired of performing and dreams of becoming a real life princess. The two magically  ( would you expect any less from Barbie :) trade places but learn that not everything is as easy as it seems. They realize it's better to be yourself and appreciate the life you have. A lesson important for all of us to learn...

It has catchy tunes and fun music and all the fancy you expect from Barbie. 

If you know a girl who loves Barbie, this is definitely one Audrey recommends. 

* A copy of the film and dolls were sent for review purposes. No other compensation was given. 

Finding Nemo in 3D

Disney sent us an invite to a special screening of Finding Nemo 3D. Kip took Audrey for a special dad and daughter day.  The screening was at the Walt Disney Studios so the two of them had fun taking pictures around the studio. 

Looking through the pictures I can't help but notice how much Audrey has grown in the last year...she looks like a little girl now, and seems to have left most signs of toddlerhood behind. 

They enjoyed the movie...seriously how could you not enjoy watching Finding Nemo again?...and in 3D. Audrey loved the Toy Story short that played before the movie...apparently toys partying in the bathtub is the funnest thing ever. 

Is Finding Nemo 3D part of your plans this weekend?

New and Improved Huggies Diapers and Wipes

As part of the Mamás para Huggies campaign we were lucky to have Huggies send us some of their new Huggies Snug and Dry diapers and Natural Care Wipes to try out.  I have to admit...when we are home baby Frank spends most of his days in cloth diapers...yet for days when we are out running errands I always like having disposables in my diaper bag, so much easier for me to control the mess while we are out and less stuff for me to carry. 

The last thing I want to worry about while out shopping or running errands or out having fun is a leaky diaper (getting baby poop on your clothing while out and about sucks!) and Huggies is pretty good at making me feel comfortable that this wont happen. Baby Frank has been all wrapped up in the sling on trips to the market, library and park and we've had no leaks so far. 

The Natural Care Wipes are great. One wipe alone can handle most diaper changes. I also like having them to wipe Audrey's hands when we don't have soap and water near by.  They are thick, yet soft, and are wonderful at wiping sticky hands and cheeks post big ice cream cones.( :

Huggies is introducing their new and improved Huggies Snug  & Dry Diapers and Huggies Wipes, designed to withstand real life and unexpected messes and they want you to put them to the test also just like we did. You can go to the Huggies Latino Facebook page where you can share your stories about putting Huggies products to the test for a chance to win a fully-stocked diaper bag. 

You should also join the live bilingual chat happening Thursday September 20th from 12pm-1pm EST on the Huggies Latino Facebook page with Poncho de Anda (Iv'e told you how much I enjoyed hearing his thoughts and stories), he'll be sharing some of his parenting tips there...

This is part of a compensated campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Huggies.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.

i need another me

When you're postpartum... handfuls of chocolate covered almonds (or chocolate covered anything) every time you pass by the kitchen  is the best thing ever...and showers. 

I'm still trying to find the best way to handle the morning crazyness of making sure Jeremiah has his lunch (the one I was supposed to make), reminding Audrey to use the potty before leaving the house, not yelling at the dog, feeding baby, getting everyone in the minivan  and getting to school on time. 

Luckily Jeremiah is so good at remembering everything I'm forgetting...

I'm also struggling at giving everyone other than Frank enough of my attention. Wouldn't it be nice if we could just make a copy of ourselves when needed...like when Audrey was making bead necklaces, and might have told me she might have stuck one up her nose "mom what happens when you have a bead up your nose?".... I easily dismissed it... hours later it finally hit me that she really might have a bead up her nose.

she did. 

I freaked out, and Kip got it out...

And why is baby Frank growing so fast?!? Just a couple days ago all his newborn clothing fit him big. And now I'm washing the 3 month stuff... and crying at the same time...( :

Don Francisco's Coffee Makeover (Giveaway)

I love coffee. Love it. On the nights that I work, it's one  thing I  really look forward to, no matter how bad or good my night at work is going. Right around midnight all coffee drinking nurses gather around the coffee maker waiting for our treat to finish brewing... cream and sugar ready...

Our coffee set up at work isn't very pretty... it's sad actually, we have a really old coffee machine that takes um about forever to brew a pitcher and our styrofoam cups don't help very much either. I think most can agree that their coffee set up at their own workplace is sad looking also... ):

Wouldn't it be nice to have a fancy coffee machine, yummy coffee and all the condiments and new supplies you need? I know my nights at work would be a little extra fancy....

Don Francisco's Coffee contacted me asking me to share their  Office Coffee Makeover Facebook contest with you,  I think it's pretty cool... any coffee lover with a bad coffee set up at work should enter. By simply sharing why and showing a picture of your really bad looking coffee set up you could win a coffee makeover which includes a Krups coffee machine and a six month supply of coffee for your office. The contest is open to California residents, you can share your picture and share why your office needs a makeover on Don Francisco's Coffee "Office Coffee Makeover"Facebook contest page. 

Giveaway

In celebration of their contest Don Francisco also wants to giveaway some coffee gift baskets here!

I'll be giving away a few baskets over the next couple of weeks...

Starting today, with two gift baskets ($30 value) to giveaway. Just leave a comment telling me how you like your coffee...black..cream and sugar...lots of leche?...or any topic related comment, anything goes. I will randomly pick a winner on September 9th at 11:59pm. US only. 

For an extra chance to win like Don Francisco's Coffee on Facebook and leave an extra comment telling me you did. 

*a gift basket was sent to me for my enjoyment, no other compensation of any kind was given.